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20.12.2006 NDC

NDC meets over candidature of Gbeho

20.12.2006 LISTEN
By Choice FM

The leadership of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is meeting over the candidature of Mr. Victor Gbeho who is one of the three candidates vying for the party's championship position.

The candidature of former Foreign Minister James Victor Gbeho has been the subject of thorny controversy. Many party faithful argue that Mr. Gbeho's eligibility to vie for the chairmanship post is highly questionable because he broke a major party provision when he stood as an independent candidate during the 2000 elections.

After failing to win the NDC primary for the Anlo Constituency, Mr. Gbeho went independent and managed to beat NDC's Clend Sowu who was then the incumbent MP for the area.

However Mr. Gbeho has on many platforms refuted the allegations arguing that he and other party members who flouted party rules and apologized have all been accepted back into the party.

Yet his opponents contend that until such apologies are formalized and routed through appropriate party channels it cannot be considered as a genuine gesture of remorse.

Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, one of the candidates contesting for the Deputy General Secretary position of the NDC, confirmed that the party will on Tuesday afternoon meet on the candidature of Mr. Gbeho.

The NDC's two days congress which ends on Friday is expected to elect national officers to run affairs of the party for the next four years. In the estimation of party faithful the outcome of the delegate congress will redefine the direction of the party.

It is contended within party quarters that the party's fortune in the 2008 general elections will also depend on the people who would be elected to lead the party.

On Monday the party started with the vetting of candidates who have put themselves up for party positions in the Thursday congress which is slated for Koforidua.

Choice News sources at the NDC headquarters have confirmed that the process continues today, Thursday and is expected to end tomorrow evening.

Although party sources refused to disclose names of vetted candidates, Choice news gathers that Dr. Obed Asamoah, Dr. Kwabena Adjei and Elvis Afriyie Ankrah are all cleared to vie for key positions at the Congress.

Party sources assert that the delegate congress offers a fine opportunity for feuding factions to reconcile. Our investigations have found out that the factional fighting within the party started some six years ago during the selection of a vice-presidential candidate to partner Prof. Mills in the 2000 general elections.

The problems deepened with the entry of former Finance Minister, Dr. Kwesi Botchwey into 2004 presidential nomination of the NDC. Rawlings and Prof. Mills' supporters blamed party chairman, Dr. Obed Asamoah of undermining the candidature of Prof. Mills who was the preferred candidate of party founder, former President Rawlings.

Dr. Botchwey's candidature was thus construed by many Rawlings's supporters as desperate attempts by Dr. Asamoah to take over the reigns of the party.

With such perception permeating through the rank and file of the party, Dr. Botchwey's candidature was fiercely resisted by many party faithful and foot soldiers who ostensibly were incited by the many scathing remarks against the duo of Dr. Botchwey and Dr. Asamoah by the party's founder.

But one of the men at the centre of the controversy, Dr. Obed Yao Asamoah says he would not openly support any body who intends to stand for any party position this time around and has even extended a hand friendship to all those who the perception is created as if he has offended.

But Elvis Afriyie Ankrah takes Dr. Asamoah's overtures with a pinch of salt, questioning the genuineness of the NDC's chaiman's stance if indeed he Asamoah thinks he has not wronged anybody and was only apologizing because there was a certain perception to that effect.

Analysts believe Dr. Asamoah will meet his match in Dr. Kwabena Adjei, the one time Member of Parliament for the Biakoye Constituency.

As a young budding politician, it was Dr. Kwabena Adjei who scuttled the bid of Dr. Asamoah to become for the second time the Member of Parliament for the Biakoye Constituency during the 1979 General Elections.

That was after Dr. Asamoah had had a field day capturing the same seat during the 1969 Second Republican elections without much sweat.

He together with Dr. G.K. Agama and Samuel Okudjeto who all won on the ticket of the National Alliance of Liberals (NAL) took many issues with the Progress Party (PP) government that run from 1969 to 1972.

Dr. Kwabena Adjei also commented on olive branched extended by Dr. Asamoah to all political adversaries including former President Rawlings and his vice, Professor, John Evans Atta Mills, adding that in his estimation there is no factional fighting within the NDC.

Other candidates contesting for key NDC positions are Bede Ziedeng, the acting General Secretary, who is going for the substantive General Secretary post; his main challenger is former MP for Nkoranza North, Asiedu Nketia. Deputy General Secretary, Baba Jamal is also seeking for re-election, while one Baffour Kissiedu of the NDC headquarters is also seeking for the same position.

Former National Service boss, Kofi Portuphy is challenging incumbent National Organizer, Ofosu Ampofo. Hard talking Fiifi Kwettey is so far the sole candidate for the position of Propaganda Secretary.

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